PERTURB Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'perturb' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of perturb are agitate , discompose , disquiet , disturb , fluster , and upset . While all these words mean "to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action," perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions. // perturbed by her husband's strange behavior

Q: In what contexts can 'agitate' take the place of 'perturb'?

Although the words agitate and perturb have much in common, agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement. // in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work

Q: When would 'discompose' be a good substitute for 'perturb'?

While the synonyms discompose and perturb are close in meaning, discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress. // discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife

Q: When is 'disquiet' a more appropriate choice than 'perturb'?

While in some cases nearly identical to perturb , disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind. // the disquieting news of factories closing

Q: When can 'disturb' be used instead of 'perturb'?

In some situations, the words disturb and perturb are roughly equivalent. However, disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption. // the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me

Q: Where would 'fluster' be a reasonable alternative to 'perturb'?

The words fluster and perturb can be used in similar contexts, but fluster suggests bewildered agitation. // his declaration of love completely flustered her

Q: When might 'upset' be a better fit than 'perturb'?

The meanings of upset and perturb largely overlap; however, upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief. // the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child

perturb

verb

pər-ˈtərb

Definition of perturb

as in to disturb

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy the caller's strange remark perturbed me enough to keep me awake that night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb perturb contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of perturb are agitate, discompose, disquiet, disturb, fluster, and upset. While all these words mean "to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action," perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions.

perturbed by her husband's strange behavior

In what contexts can agitate take the place of perturb?

Although the words agitate and perturb have much in common, agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement.

in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work

When would discompose be a good substitute for perturb?

While the synonyms discompose and perturb are close in meaning, discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress.

discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife

When is disquiet a more appropriate choice than perturb?

While in some cases nearly identical to perturb, disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind.

the disquieting news of factories closing

When can disturb be used instead of perturb?

In some situations, the words disturb and perturb are roughly equivalent. However, disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption.

the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me

Where would fluster be a reasonable alternative to perturb?

The words fluster and perturb can be used in similar contexts, but fluster suggests bewildered agitation.

his declaration of love completely flustered her

When might upset be a better fit than perturb?

The meanings of upset and perturb largely overlap; however, upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief.

the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of perturb In another study conducted around the same time, Picard found that perturbing mitochondria changed their host cell’s gene expression and growth, even when the organelles’ ability to transform energy was unchanged. — Rachel Nuwer, Quanta Magazine, 17 July 2026 The satellites orbit thousands of kilometers above the Earth, well above altitudes where wisps of atmosphere can perturb their orbits. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 8 July 2026 And Hinch was jeered again after Jones struck out, bookending the booing and showing Tigers fans are perturbed over the team’s downfall. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026 Lobo appeared perturbed that the shop’s owner brought the claim to the Clark County District Attorney instead of filing a civil suit. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for perturb

Recent Examples of Synonyms for perturb

Verb

That’s because excess inflammation can impact your central nervous system, which can disturb sleep.

— Alice Oglethorpe, Glamour, 2 Sep. 2026
The bay contains bioluminescent plankton that creates a blue-green glow in the water when disturbed.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of disturb

Verb

Nothing will keep you from sleeping or distract you from studying like itchy bug bites or the constant sneezing and drippy nose of seasonal allergies.

— Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
The long seven-month offseason has been filled with congressional legislation, eligibility lawsuits, CFP expansion and plenty of other storylines that have distracted from the product on the field.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of distract

Verb

Such military cooperation has alarmed Israel, which is increasingly distrustful of Turkey’s intentions in the region.

— Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
California Forever has increasingly pitched the Solano Shipyard as part of a broader effort to rebuild the US maritime industry, a priority among both Democrats and Republicans alarmed over its decline.

— Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of alarm

Verb

The lack of federal guidance, conflicting messages and potential barriers to immunizations worry public health officials because vaccination rates are already falling, leading to resurgences of dangerous diseases like measles.

— Rob Stein, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
Their narrators worry about the corruption of their music scenes by news presenters, magazine writers, major-label scouts, and (for Goetz especially) academics.

— Robert Rubsam, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of worry

Verb

Lin said recent restrictions affecting mainland investors’ access to offshore brokerages in Hong Kong had particularly unsettled some clients.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Whether new degrees in AI or digital humanities pay off, or result in concrete careers, is unsettled.

— Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of unsettle

Verb

Through an open records request, the Star-Telegram obtained copies of text messages and emails concerning discussions between the two cities about the data center development.

— Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026
Akiyama wrote numerous books concerning both his spaceflight and his experiences as a farmer and being displaced from the Fukushima Prefecture.

— Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of concern

Verb

After many decades of organizing, speaking, writing, agitating — and weathering the constant controversy that courted — Steinem kept going.

— Adam Carlson, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
Continue to cook, agitating eggs and occasionally shaking pan and running spatula underneath to ensure eggs aren’t sticking, until surface of eggs looks somewhat set but still slightly shiny, about 30 seconds more.

— Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of agitate

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pertness

perturb

perturbable

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“Perturb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perturb. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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